US, Russia push rival UN actions on Venezuela

Another military official drops allegiance to Maduro

The United States has presented a draft resolution on Venezuela to the United Nations Security Council, triggering a Russian counterproposal.

The US draft resolution calls for international aid deliveries and presidential elections in Venezuela while stressing "deep concern with the violence and excessive use of force by Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, peaceful protesters".

The US expresses "full support for the National Assembly as the only democratically elected institution in Venezuela", said a copy of the text obtained by AFP news agency.

In response, Moscow came up with an alternative resolution, expressing its concern for Venezuela's territorial integrity and political independence.

The Russian draft criticises any "attempts to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of Venezuela".

The US is sponsoring a campaign for international recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader and head of the country's elected legislative body Juan Guaido over President Nicolas Maduro.

Showing its support for President Maduro's regime, Russia will likely use its veto power to block the US resolution.

Meanwhile, an active-duty Venezuelan army colonel who is a military doctor has dropped his allegiance to President Nicolas Maduro, backing opposition leader Juan Guaido instead.

A week ago, Air Force General Francisco Yanez also dropped his allegiance to Maduro.

Humanitarian aid sent by the US recently arrived in the Colombian city of Cucuta on the border with Venezuela. Maduro on Saturday said, "Venezuela won't allow the spectacle of fake humanitarian aid because we're no one's beggars."

“Venezuela is not suffering the humanitarian crisis fabricated by Washington over the last four years to justify intervening in our country,” he added.